Saturday, December 15, 2007

I, say your name, am an Effortless Master.


Although it would be easy to focus on the transcendent tenor playing on the part of Joe Lovano (in Kanye West shades?), take a moment to check out what each of the musicians in this band is actually doing. Here are a few things you might notice...
>they aren't staring at sheet music, they are comfortable with the song ("A Portrait of Jenny") and it's chord changes
>they appear to be creatively feeding off of one another when soloing
>their playing is rhythmically interesting, and not often melodically predictable
>they are not particularly worried about their notes outlining the chord changes
>they each have a unique sound/voice on their instruments
>they are fearless in their virtuosity
Effortless Mastery is a book by Kenny Werner, the pianist you see here in the video. His book might change your playing. His book might change your life. It is a short read, available on the Aebersold site, why not check it out?
Click HERE for a synopsis of the book. Click HERE to learn how to swing a guitar around yourself.

Friday, November 30, 2007

I'm standin' at the crossroads...

You got the blues? Hit this link! Be sure you turn the on site radio on first. I'm not sure why this is so entertaining, but it is. If you play long enough, you'll crave gumbo, so be careful.

Click here to express your sorrow through music.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

What is "Post Bop?" A rash from the sticky stuff on stamps maybe? A new cereal perhaps?

This little website from the creators of "Downbeat" jazz magazine explains, in a fairly easy to digest manner, all the different styles and periods of jazz history. You might want to pick up an album by a different artist in the style of an artist you already like. This website is good for that. You might want to comb your hair, this website is bad for that. Discovering new styles of music... good for that. Discovering Alaska...bad for that.

click here to go to learn a little jazz history

click here to non-productively check out AN AMAZING LINK!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The big Peplowski.

Ken Peplowski is pretty unbelievable on clarinet. This clip is included to showcase how important it is to become a virtuoso on your instrument. You might have the greatest ideas in your head, but unless you can transfer them to your instrument (or we can live in your head. No thanks on that by the way, it's scary in there) you are nowhere. Hey, put down that Twinkie and work out some diminished scales...there are only 3 and they sound great on dominant 7 b9 chords!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Casio fun.


I don't know why, but I think of our baritone saxophonist when I hear this one. It's another short clip from the pianist doing the Radiohead cover on the clip above. Oh, one last thing regarding this clip... do yourself a favor and don't take up smoking. Brad is cool, but he'll die young if he doesn't kick his habit. Don't believe us? Take a look in bag number one...
BAG NUMBER ONE

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Enter the exit music.

No need blow the dust off this one. This is Brad Mehldau on the piano. This is a Radiohead cover called "Exit Music (for a film)". Why not? Jazz doesn't have to be the standards of yesteryear. When I jog I listen to "Rage Against the Machine" (not sure why, latent aggression or something), and I was thinking wouldn't that be interesting for big band? I was also thinking maybe some rap with a small jazz band backing it up. Why not some Dave Matthews (Yorktown alum) tunes, or even Justin Timberlake reharmonized or something. Do you have a band, try this, and let us know how it works out for you. Maybe put us in your liner notes if you're famous...Mrs. Kluga and Mr. Whalen's blog shaped my life's direction. ;)

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Everybody digs Bill Evans! You might too.


This is Bill Evans, one of the greatest jazz pianists who ever lived playing a tune called "Waltz for Debby". Bill is known largely as a master of the inner voicings in chords - meaning he adds tension notes to chords that are not quite as cliche as in standard voicings. He also moves from chord to chord in interesting ways, creating melodic lines that most professional pianists would have to sit down and write out in order to play. He does it at light speed, which adds to his charm. Check out how they listen to one another, and compliment each other's playing.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Hi, I am your psyche...

Please take a break from your AP course work for a moment, and give me, your psyche, a little something something. By something something I mean a video clip of the Miles Davis quintet (in 1959) Mr. Whalen found while taking a break from finding new ways to make the tune Mary Had a Little Lamb exciting for fifth graders. Just watching this clip will make you cool, for at least 10 whole minutes.


Now listen to how the song evolved in another clip from 1964, 5 years later.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Young...even compared to you!

This is a guy I went to Berklee with back in the late 80s, a.k.a. when most of you were born. He is probably 17 years old in this clip... it's how I remember him as he entered school. I was there to see Roy Hargrove play before he was the jazz superstar he is now. Aside from the obvious talent and skill, confidence has a lot to do with why he is headlining at the North Sea Jazz Festival before entering college. It's a trait most of the prodigies have... a fearless ability to just play without worrying about making a mistake. If you are worried (as I often am, hence the lack of the child prodigy moniker next to my name) you'll have the tendency to get hung up on stuff or sound ridiculously preconceived. You should try playing Bb blues with a B scale sometime, if you play it confidently it will sound cool. If you play it weak, it will sound lame. This is good practice, because it will show you that you can't really make a mistake playing jazz, everything is more or less good in context.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Jaco


Electric bass as you have never heard it before. Jaco Pastorius is widely respected in both the jazz and rock worlds. He is best known for his work with "Weather Report", a popular fusion group. Listen to his use of harmonic chords. Also listen to the way he uses repetition as a sonic canvas. (good one..."sonic canvas"... I'm cracking up that I wrote that, perhaps I should write for the Times. The baloney section.)

Friday, November 9, 2007

I like it, maybe you'll like it...

Here we have a clip of the Maria Schneider Orchestra. Is it jazz? Yes. Does it sound like the jazz you are used to hearing? Probably not. Is it something unique and beautiful? Well, you decide. The group features some of the most happening players in the world- drummer Jeff Ballard, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, saxophonist Rich Perry to name a few. Listen to the way everyone works together. One of the things I like most about this clip is watching Ms. Schnieder. The way she connects to the music is the way I'd like connect with my own playing and compositions. The music clearly moves her.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Hans Solo

This is a spoof created by jazz pianist Larry Goldings, masquerading here in a bad wig as pianist Hans Groiner. Thought you might enjoy it...

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Thelonious Monk!


During Bill Clinton's campaign, he was asked by a reporter from MTV who his favorite musician is. He replied "Thelonious Monk." The reporter followed up with an amazing question... "Who is the loneliest monk?" Check out Monk's technique on piano, you have never seen anything like it. This is a blues head called "Blue Monk." It's a good tune to know, and you might want to learn it by ear. After you check out this clip, follow up with the clip above featuring the not so hip Hans Groiner.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

I want to play drums!

This is an incredible example of modern jazz drumming. Brian Blade plays a solo over hits and an out chorus with Josh Redman on the tenor sax. Notice how relaxed and loose Brian is... even with the hits, he is having fun and responding to the rhythm rather than forcing something he worked out onto it. Remember, in your own playing tone and time are most important when soloing, notes are secondary. If you play with a beautiful tone, and you solo with a solid rhythmic feel, you'll always sound great.

Bones!

Looking to add some low brass to your life? Tired of the treble clef are you? This is a good starting point for checking out trombonists. J.J. Johnson set the standard for bebop bone. This clip features him alongside Howard McGhee and Sonny Stitt playing the blues head "Now's the Time." This head is played at almost every jazz jam session, and is a good one to have down if you are looking to play out.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Theory classes at your fingertips

If you are curious about chords, scales, and the many relationships notes have to one another OR you are wondering what a college level music course looks like, look no further. Below are links to four theory workbooks. If you are feeling extra ambitious, try completing the worksheets at the end of each book. The material you'll find in these books is considered non-traditional theory, meaning you won't learn species counterpoint or any other classical stuff for that matter. However, this is functional harmony and can be applied on a gig or in your own songwriting. This is the real deal...

Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 4

Sunday, November 4, 2007

"I would like to hit the number"



Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong is singing and playing trumpet in this video. He founded the style of singing commonly known as "scat" in which a vocalist solos using nonsense words, syllables or at times both. As with all of the musicians in this blog, he is considered one of the greatest jazz musicians of the 20th century. Dig if you will, the clarinet solo. While this tune is performed with a "dixieland" feel, you can hear the shift into more modern jazz in both notes and rhythms.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Music as Art - Giant Steps

Music and art are beautifully intertwined in this visual presentation of a tune by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane a.k.a. "Trane." One of his major contributions to jazz was his invention of the chord progression in the composition you'll hear here entitled "Giant Steps." Take a look at this link, hopefully it will inspire you to create something artistic to go along with something you've heard. Music is art, and the two can drive one another.

Click here!

This however is not art...

Friday, November 2, 2007

Charlie Parker a.k.a. "Bird"


Charlie Parker the alto saxophonist, is the founder of the style of jazz known as "Bebop." Check out his technique (look at his fingers) in this clip. He is one of the most influential figures in jazz. Also featured is Buddy Rich, a famous drummer and bandleader.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Transcriptions!

Trumpeters, Saxophonists, wondering what to do with all that free time? Frisbee season is coming to an end. The smell of crackling fire fills the air. Leaves are changing colors and falling. Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat. Why not warm up to a few of these transcriptions? Try these links, you'll enjoy them...

Trumpeters click here

Saxophonists click here